WELINTON GARCIA OF IRVINGTON, NJ ARRESTED FOR DRUG POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND MONEY LAUNDERING

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA

FROM: ACTING PROSECUTOR DENNIS CALO

DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the apprehension of fugitive WELINTON GARCIA, (DOB: 9/15/79; single; and unemployed) of 165 Augusta Street, Apartment B2, Irvington, New Jersey on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. The arrest of Welinton GARCIA, formerly of 41 Long Valley Road, Lodi, New Jersey, is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office (“BCSO”) under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino, and the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force under the direction of District of New Jersey U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos, Jr.

The charges against GARCIA stemmed from a joint investigation by the BCPO Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Lodi Police Department conducted in December 2010. During the course of a narcotics operation in Lodi, NJ, GARCIA was arrested and charged with Possession of approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, with the Intent to Distribute, a crime of the 1st degree. GARCIA was also charged with Money Laundering after detectives recovered $150,000 in cash.

Upon posting bond from jail, GARCIA failed to appear in Bergen County Superior Court, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on March 22, 2012.

Over the course of the following 5 years, detectives from the BCPO and the BCSO, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, gathered intelligence and followed leads to determine GARCIA’s whereabouts. Detectives were able to develop leads that indicated GARCIA was in the Dominican Republic, but he could not be located.

In January 2018, detectives from the BCPO and BCSO re-opened the investigation after receiving information that GARCIA had returned to the United States. On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, detectives located and arrested GARCIA without incident at 165 Augusta Street, Irvington, New Jersey, and he was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending an appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.

Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the BCSO, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lodi Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service for their assistance in this investigation.